Acting Governor Of West Java Claims That The Sarimukti TPA Fire Has Extinguished 50 Percent

Acting Governor of West Java Bey Viki Machmudin gave a statement at Gedung Sate Bandung, Thursday (7/9/2023). (ANTARA/Ricky Prayoga)

Acting Governor of West Java (Pj Governor of West Java) Bey Sapihi Machmudin said the fire at the Sarimukti Waste Disposal Site (TPA) had now been extinguished by around 50 percent. "In the meeting, it was discussed about the issue of waste (Bandung Raya). Today there has been progress, indeed the fire (Sarimukti fire) has been extinguished 50 percent," said Bey after a leadership meeting with the SKPD at Gedung Sate Bandung, Antara, Thursday, September 7. In the short term, said Bey, steps have also been discussed, such as reducing waste from cities/districts in Greater Bandung, as well as other businesses. "There has been cooperation with the regions to reduce waste, because it's not only the province, but also the district city," he said. Regarding the option to provide emergency land because the fire caused the Sarimukti TPA operation to be disrupted, it is still waiting for an assessment from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). "So if in the past two days there has been an assessment from ITB, it has been approved, new land will be cleared, and its location is still around that location (Sarimukti)," said Bey. He also said the Bandung Raya Waste Emergency Status would still last until September 24, 2023. Meanwhile, Head of the West Java Environment Agency (DLH) Prima Mayaningtyas said, with the condition of a waste emergency, his party had opened 0.6 hectares of land around the TPA to accommodate around 8,600 tons of waste. "I asked the ITB Chancellor to eat it, if possible before September 11, because my calculation was 8,600, it ended on September 11, now the quota is more than separo. Cimahi also asked for an additional quota, I still have this," he said. Regarding the opening of the exhaust zone at the Sarimukti TPA, Prima said that his party was waiting for an assessment from ITB, including the option to open a new land or zone around the Sarimukti TPA. "As long as there are safe recommendations from ITB, certain zones are safe, we will open them there. Because they analyze them from various disciplines, so they will become a reference. The recommendations will also be submitted to the BPBD authorized for emergencies," he said. However Prima said this disaster was a momentum to build public awareness in sorting waste from sources and building better waste management. "In the beginning, it seemed that he was not ready for this disaster, like a rioter, like he was confused by this condition. But this is the best momentum so that everyone is aware of this emergency situation and encourages various parties from CSR, waste banks, commodities, and industry, reducing waste production and managing waste well," he said. Prima also asked the public and all stakeholders to remain aware of the end of this fire disaster. "Because what I am afraid of if the pattern is reopened, it will change again, like before, namely gathering, transporting, throwing away, don't be like that. It must remain good," he said.

The latest news from the Sarimukti TPA, the air bombing of water to extinguish the fire has been officially stopped since Monday and replaced with a ground-based extinguishing effort by backfilling.